About Uganda Muslim Brothers and Sisters

Uganda Muslim Brothers and Sisters (UMBS) was started as a discussion forum in 2010 by a Ugandan Muslim, Abbey Semuwemba, based in the United Kingdom. The main aim at the time was to encourage all Muslims to come together and discuss anything on their minds. It was started with only about 200 members but gradually, however, membership expanded to more than 6000 people in different countries, and so the need arose for formal operational guidelines.
UMBS is building itself to become the national umbrella organisation dedicated to the common good, to the betterment of the Muslim community and country. It was formed after several years of wide-ranging consultation and careful planning by a group of Muslims that discussed Islamic affairs online regularly. It intends to bring together all representatives of different Muslim organisations in Uganda to meet up on annual basis to discuss the affairs of Muslims in Uganda.
The need to coordinate efforts on wider issues of common concern became apparent in the course of the feud that developed between Muslim leaders after the sale of Muslim properties in Uganda. This created a climate of distrust and non-cooperation between many diverse groups in the country.

Assalam alaikum.From the comments on the recently released cabinet list both here and elsewhere, an impression is being created that to insist on fair representation in government leadership is an act begging. this is not true.

Some have even suggested that we forget politics for a while and concentrate on business and education. This is case of a “coping mechanism”.

Muslims demand fair representation because they know that it is a constitutional requirement. Mr. Museveni has repeatedly breached these provisions.

The matter of support to Mr. Museveni is not an issue here. At the NRM delegates conferences almost 30% or more delegates are Muslim. I have seen the records my self. More Muslims support the NRM than any other party including JEEMA which has a large number of Muslims but received more votes in Acholi, Lango and Teso (low Muslim population areas) and Busoga (with a fairly high Muslim population). In 1996 and 2001 when JEEMA fielded a presidential candidate Mr. Mayanja Kibirige, Muslim Buganda ‘rejected’ JEEMA, preferring NRM. The situation is gradually changing though.

I know many better qualified Muslims in Uganda (than those that have been appointed in the recent cabinet positions disproportionately), in breach of the constitution,who are actively working for Mr. Museveni and would ‘even kill for him’.

Cabinet appointments in Uganda are the gauge of political value of a community at the time of a reshuffle. The present Muslim value is approximately zero. That is being facilitated by the systematic labeling of Muslims as local murderers and local terrorists (forget the global tag) – indeed more and more useful Muslims, not only Sheikhs, will be arrested and scandalized in the build up to the 2016 elections. Just scan the news (Radio, TV, Print) since December 25, 2015 to grasp the trend.

I agree though that Cabinet posts can be a terrible delusion when those holding them are selfish, as they don’t translate into real value for money for the communities of those that hold them.

When it comes to security forces – all the heads – of Land Forces, Air Force, Police, Prisons, ISO, ESO, CMI …. are headed by persons who speak a common language group – Runyakitara. So is the case for new Minister of security and Minister for Internal Affairs.This is a breach of the constitution.

A deliberate move must be made to address this injustice and constitutional breach. A frank, structured dialogue on this issue between the various Muslim groupings in Uganda and Mr. Museveni’s government – is recommended.

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA, 1995.

National Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy

General.

I. Implementation of objectives.

(i) The following objectives and principles shall guide all organs and agencies of the State, all citizens, organisations and other bodies and persons in applying or interpreting the Constitution or any other law and in taking and implementing any policy decisions for the establishment and promotion of a just, free and democratic society.

(ii) The President shall report to Parliament and the nation at least

once a year, all steps taken to ensure the realisation of these policy objectives and principles.

Political objectives.

II. Democratic principles.

(i) The State shall be based on democratic principles which empower and encourage the active participation of all citizens at all levels in their own governance.

(ii) All the people of Uganda shall have access to leadership

positions at all levels, subject to the Constitution.

(iii) The State shall be guided by the principle of decentralisation and devolution of governmental functions and powers to the people at appropriate levels where they can best manage and direct their own affairs.

(iv) The composition of Government shall be broadly representative of the national character and social diversity of the country.

(v) All political and civic associations aspiring to manage and direct public affairs shall conform to democratic principles in their internal

organisations and practice.

(vi) Civic organisations shall retain their autonomy in pursuit of their declared objectives.

III. National

III. National unity and stability

(i) All organs of State and people of Uganda shall work towards the

promotion of national unity, peace and stability.

(ii) Every effort shall be made to integrate all the peoples of Uganda while at the same time recognising the existence of their ethnic, religious, ideological, political and cultural diversity.

(iii) Everything shall be done to promote a culture of cooperation,
understanding, appreciation, tolerance and respect for each other’s customs,traditions and beliefs.

(iv) There shall be established and nurtured institutions and procedures for the resolution of conflicts fairly and peacefully.

(v) The State shall provide a peaceful, secure and stable political environment which is necessary for economic development.

Assalam Alaikum,As always it is fun to read the brilliant minds on this forum. Let us thank Allah for the brilliance that people like Haj Kawaase, Dr. Haj. Matovu and now Haj Mugagga have brought to Muslim education in Uganda. It will be wrong if we simply make judgement with out considering the environment they have worked in. As a totally different example, let me bring in a few other guys and how they have contributed to Muslim education. May be it will help us appreciate our academic icons more.

I went to Kololo High School in the mid 80’s and Haj Ishak Kamoga was my HM. At that time there were not many private schools in the country. There was war and then the post war era. The options for education for the mid level scholars and the poor parents were extremely limited. You either had to go to Kololo High, Kampala High, Kitante Hill, Kampala Modern, City High, Aggrey Memorial, Kololo S S and that was about all!!!! These schools performed poorly!!!! And all we could brag about was stubbornness!!!

But in so doing, Haj Ishak Kamoga, the Wangubos, Kalules, Ssalis, Kanata….etc of then produced some of the best Ugandans we are proud of. The very out standing people I went to class with or who were in these schools around the same time, that I can dare mention include; Mr. Sekalala Shafique, Hon Haj Latif Sebaggala, Army Spokes person Mr. Kurayije, Boxer Godfrey Nyakaana, Consultant Gynaecologist Haruna Mwanje, DEO Luwero- Florence Bbosa, Lawyer LordMayor Erias Lukwago……. to mention, but a few. One of our brightest stars Dr. Sarah Namulondo (RIP) passed away recently shortly after she had received a PhD in English! On top of those people I have mentioned, we can attribute all the English spoken in Kampala’s shopping malls to these “lousy” schools of the 80’s. What I am trying to say here is that the guys who manned the Kololo Highs of the 80’s could be the best contributors to Uganda’s Muslim Education if you put the then environment into perspective.

When I went to Kibuli in the late 80’s. Eng Umar Bagampadde had just risen to stardom. Kibuli had scored a record number of first grades that year! He did not score 8 in 8 because he spent time discussing for others. In-fact as a fellow student, he was our submath teacher!!! The following year Kasozi Duncan (I don’t know where he is now) emerged national candidate but Kibuli got fewer 1st grades. Haj Kawaase was upset that he wanted many more first grades rather than one superstar. This was the birth of the policy of more admissions from Kibuli to Universities rather than producing a few national candidates.

In the times Dr. Haj Matovu joined Kibuli, things had changed to that. Kitende had emerged and the theory of many first grades and numbers into Universities rather than quality had sank in. And I think you understand where we are coming from.

Right now we realize that may be Kibuli and Kawempe (Govt Schools) shouldn’t compete with Kitende (a private school) to produce numbers but should re-join their old league of Buddo, Namilyango, Gayaza, Namagunga and Kisubi to produce quality. Let the issue of numbers remain with the private schools, the Mbogo’s, Kinawa’s and my own Seeta Academic Complex- Kasangati ( AKA Seeta Kasangati SS, the rising star in science teaching!). This is my advise to Haj. Mugagga, for the dynamics are different!

So Muslims, let us not criticize or sob, lets us pierce into the future and give guidance. Mere complaining as we may, will not solve any thing. We have lost Lubiri, for instance. We need to re-claim our right in the public schools as Shafique rightly says. People are lumping us together and we are not seeing. Twelumaluma nga nsenene!!! We have major challenges ahead of us, lets put our brains to work and stop the bickering.

Like this:

Famous Muslim scholar on Islam and comparative religions and founder of Islamic Research foundation Dr Zakir Naik has won the biggest award of Saudi Arabia King Faisal award.The award was announced by Governor of Makkah city Khaled Al-Faisal. Dr Naik is running three Islamic TV Channels, Peace TV English, Peace Urdu and Peace Bangla. Beside that he is also running United Islamic aid to help less fortunate Muslims. His school Islamic International school is also famous for providing great education to Muslim Kids. he has delivered thousands of lectures in different parts of the world on Islam and comparative religions.

After listening to his lectures and reading his books thousands of Non Muslims accepted Islam. So we can say he really deserved the King Faisal award.

Like this:

Haj Nsereko and Muslim Leaders,As-salamu `alaykum.Thank you for your news brief and for your regular updates. Masha-Allah. You have pointed out that ‘Muslim leaders present [at Nakasero Mosque for the second unity Friday prayers] blasted those opposed to the ongoing Muslim unity drive calling them self-seekers’.

If this is accurate, whoever is close to the concerned ‘Muslim leaders’ should advise them that unity is not achieved by ‘blasting’ others holding different views and describing them as ‘self-seekers’. It is important to understand the position of others labelled as ‘self-seekers’ and either engage with their concerns (based on Quran and Sunnah) or just leave them alone.

I think they have been consistent. See report in today’s New Vision reproduced below this email.

Unity among Muslims entails several aspects including one Lord, one Book, one Prophet, one religion, one qiblah, and one ummah. This unity is not achieved by ‘blasting’ and declaring those who do not (currently) agree with you as ‘self-seekers’. Rather unity is achieved by adhering to Quran and Sunnah and to persist in that and to advise one another to do so, and to cooperate in righteousness and piety, and to refer all disputed matters to Quran and Sunnah

Like this:

In another Islamophobic crime, a Canadian Muslim man was shot dead in his home in Alberta, facing the same fate of Chapel Hill victims whose death has shaken the Muslim world, amid apparent absence of media coverage.The 28-year-old victim, Mustafa Mattan, was answering a knock at his home when he was shot by an anonymous assailant on Monday, February 12.The shooting of the Muslim victim, who moved from Ottawa to Fort McMurray less than a month ago, was also ignored by the mainstream media, sparking outrage among the Muslim communities in Canada.A day after Mattan’s death, Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23 his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21 and her sister Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, were found dead at a condominium complex off campus in Chapel Hill.The health sciences graduate, Mustafa, moved to join his new job in Fort McMurray to save money for his wedding, according to his family.

Like this:

1.Do Muslims in Uganda pay zakat to the UMSC?
2.Are the leaders in the UMSC including District kadhis, county Sheikhs and mosque Imams paid salaries?
3.Why is it that there are many Hijja Committees in Uganda today when there used to be only one in the past? What is the effect of this situation to the Muslim welfare in Uganda?
4.What is the effect of Muslim marriages being regulated by the different factions?
5.What is the effect of Muslim disunity in Uganda to the donor community?
6.Where does the UMSC administration get resources to run its business?

Like this:

I have got information that the new Head Teacher of Lubiri S.S Mukulu Ssentongo has embarked on a furious battle against Islam, Muslim Teachers and Students in the School.

In Collaboration with one Edris Kamanje (a Muslim teacher), Ssentongo has banned a Veil that was introduced by Brother Ali Mugagga to those who wish to put it on, claiming that it is not part of Uniform. I have learnt that all other teachers both Muslims and non-muslims refused to pass the directive to the students but a Muslim Edris Kamanje did so claiming that “Naye byali Byamutama ddaaa” Mbu Lubiri s.s is not a Mosque. At least Five of the veiling Students who couldn’t unveil were forced to leave the school.

Ssentongo is also witch-hunting any Muslim teachers who seem to be “too religious” bragging that he is now the boss and who ever cant tolerate his rules is free to quit. He even removed the Veiling Secretary from his office and sent her to the Deputy head teacher’s office.

Like this:

‘I used to fight the veil when I was still in ma teens, it felt awful. I didn’t want to put it on because am a moslem, I wanted to put it on because it is the right thing for me and solely for the pleasure of Allah. Nobody forced me to put it on, but i’ve grown to embrace it and I love it. Without it, I don’t feel ok. Whenever I go to the saloon, do ma hair- am bombarded with crazy looks! “why then did you come to the saloon when you are going to cover your hair?” We don’t cover up because our hair doesn’t look good, but rather we do out of faith. I salute all the ladies who are confident putting on their veils, you look good, smart and respectful.”—-Nadia Nadia Muhammed

————————–MUSLIM LADY TOLD TO DROP HER HIJAB IF SHE WANTS TO KEEP HER JOB

”I still cant believe that i am being fired from my job just because am a Muslim and i refuse to unveil my self. My bosses want me to leave my hair out, a thing i cant do, so they have given me just this week, that if i cant uncover my head and leave it out, i should leave the job. Ndabye nnyo. Mbu to them Muslims are terrorists, wabula these Koreans bamannyidde. Mbu i shouldnt even leave the desk to go for prayers, kati wat should i do serious, ejjuma najivaako naye ate routine swala awo nedda wakiri kambeere ewaka njiiye ebipya.

Yes, i believe that Allah is watching, i wont go against God just because of a job which even doesnt belong to me, i will be still fired for any other reason some day.if it was some other thing, it would be fine, bt prayer religion, no no no, am proud to be a Muslim, a practicing muslim, belief keeps me moving, who am i without God?, without prayer.i wont be uncomfortable, walking in public nga nzenna neetya just because omulimu, leaving swala? hahahahaha kizibu ate ekyo kubanga i think that how can i make it throughout the day without prayer, i rather leave, God has a better plan i believe……Siyinza gamba nti seebikkula ngako, i never used to wear hijab in the past, but wen i decided to reform into a better me, i found out that this is the right path, so i cant go back to where i was, not even for the job, not even for a mere person.Allah will provide for me i believe that, this might be just a test.

for them a secretary should be mbu “attractive” and their definition for attractive is being skimpy, putting more flesh out to attract customers and i cant do that, i was once their and vowed never to go back again.i wont throw ma dignity away, it comes first. I balance it, i wear skirts, blouses, suits and a veil, just that simple, like an office lady, i dont need to go naked to be noticed ma dear, i do my work perfectly, its not hte dressing that makes reports, its the person.

And to my surprise friends, i came for the job interview veiled, dressed like a true moslem do doubt, the guy asked me if am a Muslim, and i said yes bt still he gave me the job, i asked him if am allowed to pray at 1 and at 4, he hesitated a little bt later accepted, kati ate he is changing. Bt i think because America seized their money because they thought they are funding an Islamist terrorist group somewhere, which made them very angry at all the moslems in the world (maybe nange simanyi’—- Rehma Namaganda

Like this:

As global oil and gas prices continue to fluctuate, the Kingdom of Jordan has announced their intentions to use renewable energy alternatives to power the country.As a collaboration with Jordan’s Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic affairs, the project aims to install rooftop solar systems in all of the country’s 6,000 mosques.

It will first start by powering 120 mosques and will install more solar panels if the project secures the funding it needs.

Jordan imports about 96 percent of its energy needs every year and has seen ever-increasing electricity rates to match the continually rising rate of consumption.

With high electricity demands to keep worshippers comfortable for the five daily prayers, one mosque alone can expect to pay an electricity bill of JD1,000 a month.

Like this:

Every son and daughter is required to be kind to his or her parents and to ensure that their wishes are properly observed or complied with, as far as that is practical, useful or beneficial. Whatever a son or a daughter can do to please his or her parents, he or she should do, provided that it does not involve any disobedience to Allah or injustice to other people.

Almighty Allah has emphasized that kindness to parents is one of the most important qualities of believers. He says in the Qur’an: “Thy Lord hath decreed, that ye worship none save Him, and (that ye show) kindness to parents. If one of them or both of them to attain old age with thee, say not ‘Fie’ unto them nor repulse them, but speak unto them a gracious word. And lower unto them the wing of submission through mercy, and say: My Lord! Have mercy on them both as they did care for me when I was little.” (Al-Isra’ 17: 23-24)

Kindness to parents is mentioned as a duty of believers several times in the Qur’an. There are many Hadiths that encourage us to be very kind to our parents. However, such kindness does not require a son or a daughter to obey his or her parents in whatever they may require of him or her. Suppose that a father asks his son to tell a lie, give false testimony, or drink or do something forbidden. If the son complies with his father’s wish, then he commits a sin that will not be less grave simply because he is carrying out his father’s orders. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “No creature may be obeyed in what constitutes disobedience to the Creator.” That applies even in simple matters. Suppose a father arrives from abroad, having bought a bottle of some expensive alcoholic drink and he asks his son to deliver it to a friend or a neighbor. If his son complies with his wishes and simply takes the bottle to the person concerned, he commits a sin, because carrying an intoxicating drink to someone who will drink it is forbidden. The son must refuse to obey his father in such a situation.

Parents are also responsible for what they demand of their children. It is not right of a father to require his son or daughter to do something that is contrary to Islamic principles, relying on the fact that his son or daughter should obey him. Indeed, if the father does that, he fails in his duty to help his children choose only what Islam approves. Not only so, but he forfeits his rights to be obeyed by his children. We must differentiate here between two things. Being kind to parents and total obedience to them. Obedience must be discriminating. We obey our parents only in what is right and what is calculated to please Allah. But we should be kind to them in all situations. Allah Almighty says that if parents try hard to persuade their son to associate partners with Allah, then he must not obey them, but he should “… bear them company in this world’s life with kindness.” (Luqman: 115). When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was told by one of his female Companions that her mother, a non-believer, had come to visit her, he told her: “Be kind to your mother.”

Like this:

According to an authentic Hadith, related by Al-Bukhari, Ibrahim visited his son when Isma`il was out on his business. He spoke to his daughter-in-law, who did not know his relationship to her husband. He asked how they were and she started complaining, saying that they were going through hard times and she went on complaining. Ibrahim then told her to give his greetings to her husband when he returned home and tell him to change his doorstep. Isma`il understood his father’s recommendation and divorced his wife. Later Ibrahim paid a second visit to Isma`il and met his new wife when Isma`il was away. When he asked her how they were, she praised Allah for His blessings and said that they were having plenty. Ibrahim asked her what they ate and drank, and she answered that they had meat to eat and water to drink. He prayed Allah to bless what they had and told her to greet her husband on his behalf and to tell him to retain his doorstep.

In neither case, was Ibrahim making his recommendation on the basis of personal like or dislike of the woman concerned. He felt in the first case that a woman who complains to any stranger and tells him about their hardship is not a good wife. Certainly she was not the one to give support to her husband when he needed to fulfill his task as a prophet and a messenger, as Isma`il was later to become. Indeed, a wife who complains to every stranger or passerby is certainly not a good wife to any husband. In short, Ibrahim was looking after his son’s interest.

Men were created polygamous because of a need in human society. There is normally a surplus of women in most human societies:

1. The surplus is a result of men dying in wars, violent crimes and women outliving men;

2. The upsurge in homosexuality further increases the problem.

If systems do not cater to the need of surplus women, it will result in corruption in society. For example, after World War II, when suggestions to legalize polygamy were rejected by the Church, Germany legalized prostitution.

German prostitutes are considered as workers like any other profession. They receive health benefits and pay taxes like any other citizen.

Furthermore, the rate of marriage has been steadily declining as each succeeding generation finds the institution of marriage more and more irrelevant.

I hope my writing reaches you in good health and spirit. It has been brought to the attention of the Uganda Muslim community that you have decided as an individual that you will with your single hand fight Islam, Muslims and their God with your bare hands. This makes us consider you a gallant solder for whatever god you are serving, but certainly not the Good Shepherd Jesus of the Nazareth since he would not have okay the war you are waging against innocent kids in your school who do not profess what you call right.

But allow me to teach you something, sir; it’s not worth it. Have you ever considered that before the coming of the white missionary or the Arab traders your father and the father of those kids you are fighting today were all Ugandans each worshiping the Lake, the Sun or the Mountain?

But today, you want to play holier than thou and fight others as if you already known God than the rest of fellow humans.

Jesus to whom you pretend to defend said:

Mark 12:31 ESV / 283 helpful votes

The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Leviticus 19:18 ESV / 210 helpful votes

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV / 149 helpful votes

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 82 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

So if what you are doing to your Muslim neighbours kids is for the love of Chris forget it, the above is the true teachings of Christ, but if you are doing for the worldly Jesus then you are in a manifest error and your ending will be a bad one.

Correct your ways before it correct your own children, for what goes around comes around.

Abu’Aarif Abu’Maahir
————————–
LUBILI S.S new headmaster, Godfrey Ssentongo is not a stranger to controversy involving intrigue and unlawful suspension of teachers. See an excerpt from parliamentary activities of 2012:

Hon. Betty Nambooze Bakireke, (DP, Mukono Municipality) presented a Petition by teachers, parents and old students of Bishop Senior Secondary School, Mukono. Petitioners were seeking for the intervention of Parliament in matters pertaining to the mismanagement of the school, abuse of office and unlawful dismissal, suspension of teachers and other members of staff by the headmaster, Godfrey Ssentongo Sempa . Petition referred to the Committee on Education for consideration

A leading Nigerian Muslim group has denounced the extra-judicial murder of a Nigerian professor that was ignored by mainstream Nigerian media, demanding the quick arrests of perpetrators.Professor Ahmed Mustapha Falaki of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria was brutally murdered by mobs on Saturday February 14, 2015, as police stood watching.

According to MPAC, the late Professor of Agronomy was on an official assignment when his car was snatched by gunmen at Fala village.After his murder, police claimed they have killed Boko Haram members to discover later it was Professor Falaki.

Like this:

Amid huge criticism from the Muslim community, the Austrian parliament has passed controversial reforms to the country’s century-old law on Islam, adding more restrictions on mosques, imams and funding of worshipping houses.Austria’s new Law on Islam will prohibit Muslim organizations receiving funding from abroad.

This will also affect imams who work in Austria but are financially supported by Turkey, banning them from renewing their visas once they expire.

Currently, some 300 imams work in the country, including 65 Turkish scholars.

Moreover, mosques with less than 300 community members will be closed within a year and those with more than 300 will have to register as a legal entity.

The new “reforms” amend a 1912 law which made Islam an official religion in Austria, that has been widely held up as a model for Europe in dealing with Islam.Austrian Muslims are estimated at about half a million or nearly 6 percent of the European country’s 8 million population.

In Vienna, Islam is the second-largest religious grouping, after Roman Catholicism.

Like this:

Mariam Luyombo is an educational entrepreneur and currently serves as director of Taibah Schools Uganda.

Having worked as a secondary school teacher at Makerere College for two years (1987-1988) and at St. Joseph’s Secondary School Nsambya (1988-1990), Luyombo made no mistake in investing in schools because she knew what was lacking.Mariam Luyombo worked as a headmistress at Nabisunsa Muslim Girls School before joining private business. She owns private schools from which she has minted a lot of money. Mariam owns the famous Taibah High School in Kawempe Mbogo. She owns Silver Spoon Day Care Centre.

She also owns Taibah College, an international school in Bwebajja along Entebbe Road. She also owns Taibah Junior for the rich kids. Taibah International School is a private co-educational, non-denominational boarding school. It is located at Bwebajja which is about 14 km from Kampala and 16 km from Entebbe.

She has also invested in real estate business and has properties in Canada, where she is a citizenship.She currently lives in Ontario, Canada, where she runs her own business. Mariam is a fellow of the inaugural class of the Africa Leadership Initiative–East Africa as well as a member of and Moderator for the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Luyombo created a ten hour course, taught 540 children, trained two teachers, and developed a manual so teachers can take over the curriculum themselves. Although her project is currently on hold, she hopes that in the future she can continue her work with Taibah Young Entrepreneurship Program (TYEP). Her goal is to have 1,800 students graduate from the program. If 10% of them (180) start their own businesses, with approximately 50 jobs in each business, Uganda could see 10,000 jobs created.

She has received a number of prestigious awards in education innovation and entrepreneurship. Luyombo is also the executive director of Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association (UWEAL), which renders business skills, training and counselling services to women entrepreneurs.

In 1995, Luyombo’s enterprising work won her the first National Enterprise Award for Young Women Entrepreneurs by New Vision and Rotary Club. She also received Namagunga Old Girls’ Association (NOGA) Award of Recognition of Achievement in 1998. And in 2001, she scooped a certificate of recognition for championing educational change in Uganda from Uganda Investment Authority. She is married with three children.

She has done consultancy work in both areas and has served on several boards. She is a graduate of Makerere University, Kampala and has a bachelor of arts degree and a masters in education.

Like this:

Amina Moghe Hersi was born in 1963 and she is of Somali origin.Moghe was born in Kenya, where her mother, Sarah Hersi Ali, is a prominent expatriate Somali businesswoman. Her uncle, Adam Hersi Ali, served as a Financial Secretary of Treasury in the Kenya’s Ministry of Finance. As a young girl, Moghe and her sister regularly joined their family in the cross border trade between Kenya and Uganda. After the death of her father, the two girls were sent to accounting school by her mother, where they built on their entrepreneurial skills. The loss of two of her daughters in a car accident in 1998 prompted Moghe’s family to suggest that she move to Uganda.

Shortly after arriving in Kampala, she teamed up with Sudhir Ruparelia, who had embarked on building a business empire of his own.

She pitched camp in Ruparelia’s office at the then Crane Forex Bureau on Kampala Road, in the process benefitting from her association with quality business company. She had arrived driving a Mercedes Benz with Kenya registration plates, which she says led many of the people she dealt with believe she had a lot of money and this gave them ideas to rip her off. Sudhir solved her immediate problem by giving her a less sophisticated BMW car.

She is a woman of average height and weight, not exactly as light as your usual Somali. Hersi adheres to the Muslim dress code, complete with a head scarf and speaks English – not perfect English – with a heavy Somali accent.

She has launched several multi-million dollar projects in Kampala, Uganda. Her investments include Oasis Shopping Mall in Kampala’s central business district and the Laburnam Courts Apartments, on Nakasero Hill.The Laburnam Courts Apartments comprise a triangle of lime green flats – 154 two-bedroom and three-bedroom serviced apartment units in all – with a swimming pool in the middle. The place also has health facilities, a children’s playing area, business centre and gym. She also runs Kingstone Enterprises Limited, one of the city’s largest distributors of cement and other hardware materials.

After completing a 40,000sq ft shopping mall and 164 luxury apartments in the heart of Kampala, Moghe is now working to kick-start a sugar-milling project that seeks to improve the welfare of over 600 rural women in Pacilo Parish, approximately 300km from Kampala. The sugar project aims to employ over 1,500 people directly with over 5,000 out growers. On this project, Moghe is working in partnership with the Gulu Women Entrepreneurs Association, whose aim is to develop the districts of Amuru, Atiak, Kamdin and Noya Districts in Northern Uganda.

Through the projects, Moghe has provided employment directly and indirectly to over 6,000 people – mostly women. In all her investments, Moghe ensures women are given equal opportunities and that they play an integral role in management.

In 2008, Amina received the Woman Investor of the year Award for her large-scale projects that are changing Kampala’s skyline.In 2012, she was awarded the Best Woman Entrepreneur by the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Limited (UWEAL). In 2013, Moghe was awarded the Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS) by Kenya’s former President Mwai Kibaki for her zeal and determination in fostering regional business, which is the key driver of regional integration.

These achievements are in spite of the fact Moghe had only a basic education; her family preferred introducing her to business at an early age and the community was not keen to advocate further education for a girl. Moghe acknowledges the importance of formal education and is involved in social responsibility work in girls’ schools in and around Kampala.

Like this:

Assalam Alaykum.It is very really absurd! very painful! This time round, we are facing a triple tragedy:

1. It is the Muslims who have been murdered
2. It is the Muslims who are being arrested
3. The already depressing phenomenon of Muslim murders, has become yet another divisive issue. We are now clearly pointing fingers at each other!! One group claiming that the other is killing its members, and the other group accusing the former of being behind the ongoing arrest of its members!!!

Dear brothers and Sisters,

We are facing a very challenging episode in our community, a phenomenon which we have never experienced in our history. Despite so many years of divisions, no such a thing (as murder) or even anything remotely related to it has ever happened in our community. We have quarreled with each other about leadership, elections, property, tribes, etc. but we have never reached a point where one or a group among us thought that the solution lies in eliminating (through murder), members of another group.

But why now? What is so special about the current squabbles that necessitates the killing each other? Why should Sheikh Kamoga or any other member of his group kill or order the killing of Mustafa Bahiga? or any other human being? Until now, my mind has refused to accept the theory that it is Muslims killing fellow Muslims. Similarly, I will be reluctant to buy into this speculative talk that some Muslims are influencing the ongoing arrest of their fellow Muslims!!

Have you thought about the possibility of a security game? Have you watched what has happened in Kenya? (Inside Kenya’s death squads – find this story on you tube).

Muslims, we should exercise restraint. Let us not jump to quick conclusions, just because it is a convenient thing to do. Let us critically look at the events and follow them to their deepest details as they unfold. We could hurt ourselves, while playing someone else’s game. Let us give each other the benefit of doubt. The issue of killing a human being is a very big thing. Let us not easily pass it over or tongues because it is a weighty word! But most importantly, let us follow these events critically.

Assalam Alaikum,As always it is fun to read the brilliant minds on this forum. Let us thank Allah for the brilliance that people like Haj Kawaase, Dr. Haj. Matovu and now Haj Mugagga have brought to Muslim education in Uganda. It will be wrong if we simply make judgement with out considering the environment they have worked in. As a totally different example, let me bring in a few other guys and how they have contributed to Muslim education. May be it will help us appreciate our academic icons more.

I went to Kololo High School in the mid 80’s and Haj Ishak Kamoga was my HM. At that time there were not many private schools in the country. There was war and then the post war era. The options for education for the mid level scholars and the poor parents were extremely limited. You either had to go to Kololo High, Kampala High, Kitante Hill, Kampala Modern, City High, Aggrey Memorial, Kololo S S and that was about all!!!! These schools performed poorly!!!! And all we could brag about was stubbornness!!!

But in so doing, Haj Ishak Kamoga, the Wangubos, Kalules, Ssalis, Kanata….etc of then produced some of the best Ugandans we are proud of. The very out standing people I went to class with or who were in these schools around the same time, that I can dare mention include; Mr. Sekalala Shafique, Hon Haj Latif Sebaggala, Army Spokes person Mr. Kurayije, Boxer Godfrey Nyakaana, Consultant Gynaecologist Haruna Mwanje, DEO Luwero- Florence Bbosa, Lawyer LordMayor Erias Lukwago……. to mention, but a few. One of our brightest stars Dr. Sarah Namulondo (RIP) passed away recently shortly after she had received a PhD in English! On top of those people I have mentioned, we can attribute all the English spoken in Kampala’s shopping malls to these “lousy” schools of the 80’s. What I am trying to say here is that the guys who manned the Kololo Highs of the 80’s could be the best contributors to Uganda’s Muslim Education if you put the then environment into perspective.

When I went to Kibuli in the late 80’s. Eng Umar Bagampadde had just risen to stardom. Kibuli had scored a record number of first grades that year! He did not score 8 in 8 because he spent time discussing for others. In-fact as a fellow student, he was our submath teacher!!! The following year Kasozi Duncan (I don’t know where he is now) emerged national candidate but Kibuli got fewer 1st grades. Haj Kawaase was upset that he wanted many more first grades rather than one superstar. This was the birth of the policy of more admissions from Kibuli to Universities rather than producing a few national candidates.

In the times Dr. Haj Matovu joined Kibuli, things had changed to that. Kitende had emerged and the theory of many first grades and numbers into Universities rather than quality had sank in. And I think you understand where we are coming from.

Right now we realize that may be Kibuli and Kawempe (Govt Schools) shouldn’t compete with Kitende (a private school) to produce numbers but should re-join their old league of Buddo, Namilyango, Gayaza, Namagunga and Kisubi to produce quality. Let the issue of numbers remain with the private schools, the Mbogo’s, Kinawa’s and my own Seeta Academic Complex- Kasangati ( AKA Seeta Kasangati SS, the rising star in science teaching!). This is my advise to Haj. Mugagga, for the dynamics are different!

So Muslims, let us not criticize or sob, lets us pierce into the future and give guidance. Mere complaining as we may, will not solve any thing. We have lost Lubiri, for instance. We need to re-claim our right in the public schools as Shafique rightly says. People are lumping us together and we are not seeing. Twelumaluma nga nsenene!!! We have major challenges ahead of us, lets put our brains to work and stop the bickering.

Like this:

Among the things that give a person immunity against any psychological disorders that might face man during sleeping is showing full compliance with the Prophet’s recommendation concerning the etiquette of getting ready for bed, such as reading well-known supplications, sleeping on the right side, and avoiding sleeping on the belly, for the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade sleeping on the belly.

A Muslim should not sleep on his belly especially as this may strengthen his sexual urge. In addition, it is an unhealthy manner of sleeping. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that one day the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by a man sleeping on his belly. He tapped the man with his foot saying: “Such manner of sleeping is loathed by Allah” (Ibn Hibban).

Here, it is also beneficial to mention some Islamic manners of sleeping:

1-Try to sleep in the state of purity.

2-Dust your bed three times before you go to sleep.

3-Lie down on your right side, put your right hand under your right cheek and recite: “ O Allah! in Thy Name I live and die.”

4-Before you sleep recite Ayat al-Kursi and the two last verses of the same Surah.

5-Seek Allah’s forgiveness and His guidance.

6-Before you sleep recite once Surat Al-Mulk.

7-When you wake up recite: “Praise be to Allah Who brought to us life again after He has caused us to die and unto Him shall be the Resurrection.

Like this:

The Kaabahh is the epicenter of Mecca.The cube shaped building is at the heart of the most well-known real estate in the history of mankind; it is shrouded in black and its fair share of mystery.Here are just a few things that most people may not know about the Ka’bah:

10. It has been reconstructed several times

The Ka’bah that we see today is not exactly the same Ka’bah that was constructed by Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail. From time to time, it has needed rebuilding after natural and man-made disasters.

9. It used to have two doors and a window

The original Ka’bah used to have a door for entrance and another for exit. For a considerable period of time, it also had a window situated to one side. The current Ka’bah only has one door and no window.

8. It used to be multi-colored

We are so used to the Ka’bah being covered in the trademark black Kiswah with gold banding that we can’t imagine it being any other color. However, this tradition seems to have started at the time of the Abbasids (whose household color was black) and before this the Ka’bah was covered in multiple colors including green, red and even white.

7. The keys are in the hands of one family

At the time of the Prophet, each aspect to do with the rites of Hajj was in the hands of different sub-groups of the Quraish. Every one of these would eventually lose control of their guardianship of a particular rite except one.

On the conquest of Mecca, the Prophet was given the keys to the Ka’bah and instead of keeping it in his own possession; he returned them back to the Osman ibn Talha ® of the Bani Shaiba family. They had been the traditional key keepers of the Kaabah for centuries; and the Prophet confirmed them in that role till the end of time by these words:

“Take it, O Bani Talha, eternally up to the Day of Resurrection, and it will not be taken from you unless by an unjust, oppressive tyrant.”

Whether Caliph, Sultan or King – the most powerful men in the world have all had to bow to the words of the Prophet and ask permission from this small Makkan family before they can enter the Ka’bah.

6. It used to be open to everyone

Until recently, the Ka’bah was opened twice a week for anyone to enter and pray. However, due to the rapid expansion in the number of pilgrims and other factors, the Ka’bah is now opened only twice a year for dignitaries and exclusive guests only.

Watch the video attached here to witness the doors of the Kaabah being opened (at 50 seconds) – and the simultaneous gasps of a Million people as they cry out at this auspicious moment.

5. You used to be able to swim around it

One of the problems with having the Ka’bah situated at the bottom of a valley is that when it rains – valleys tend to flood. This was not an uncommon occurrence in Mecca and the cause of a lot of trouble before the days of flood control systems and sewage. For days on end the Ka’bah would be half submerged in water. Did that stop Muslims from performing the Tawaf? Of course not. As the picture below amply shows – Muslims just started swimming around the Ka’bah.

Modern adjustments to the surrounding landscape and flood prevention techniques mean we may never see such sights again. Or will we?

4. The inside contains plaques commemorating the rulers who renovated it

For years many have wondered what it looks like inside the Ka’bah. Relying on second or third hand accounts from those who were lucky enough to enter just wasn’t satisfying enough. Then one lucky person who went inside took his camera phone in with him and Millions have seen the shaky footage online.

The interior of the Ka’bah is now lined with marble and a green cloth covering the upper walls. Fixed into the walls are plaques each commemorating the refurbishment or rebuilding of the House of Allah by the ruler of the day.

3. There are two Ka’bahs!

Directly above the Kaabah in heaven is an exact replica. This Ka’bah was mentioned in the Qur’an and by the Prophet.

The Messenger of Allah said narrating about the journey of ‘Isra and Miraaj:

“Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma’mur (i.e. Allah’s House). I asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma’mur where 70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).”

2. The Black Stone is broken

Ever wondered how the Black Stone came to be in the silver casing that surrounds it?

Some say it was broken by a stone fired by the Umayyad army laying siege to Mecca whilst it was under the control of Abdullah ibn Zubair .

However, most agree that it was most damaged in the middle ages by an extreme heretical Ismaili group from Bahrain called the Qarmatians who had declared that the Hajj was an act of superstition. They decided to make their point by killing tens of thousands of hujjaj and dumping their bodies in the well of Zamzam.

1. It’s not supposed to be a cube shape

Yes, ladies and gentleman… the most famous cube in the world actually started out shaped as a rectangle.Oh yeah, the Ka’bah was never meant to be a cube. The original dimensions of The House included the semi-circular area known as the Hijr Ismail.

When the Ka’bah was rebuilt just a few years before the Prophet received his first revelation, the Quraish agreed to only use income from pure sources to complete the rebuild. That meant no money from gambling, looting, prostitution, interest etc. In the ultimate sign of how deeply mired in wrongdoing the Jahili Quraish were, there was not enough untainted money in this very wealthy trading city to rebuild the Ka’bah to its original size and shape!

Like this:

In a shock to Muslim students, Duke University has reversed its decision to allow the Muslim call to prayer or Adhan in campus, bowing to pressures from Franklin Graham, son of evangelist Billy Graham.The decision to raise adhan from the Duke Chapel bell tower was announced in a statement by the university officials on Tuesday.Estimates put the number of Muslim students at Duke university at more than 700, out of Duke’s 15,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

Now, with the reversed decision, members of the Muslim community will have to gather on the quadrangle outside the Chapel, a site of frequent interfaith programs and activities.

Like this:

In one of the most horrible Islamophobic attacks following Paris shooting spree, a Muslim father was stabbed to death in his own home in southern France by a neighbor who claimed to be avenging Charlie Hebdo.Shouting “I am your god, I am your Islam”, a 28-year-old assailant repeatedly stabbed his Moroccan neighbor after breaking into the victim’s home, according to the National Observatory Against Islamophobia.The 47-year-old victim, Mohamed El Makouli, who was stabbed 17 times, was disarmed during the attack that happened in his house in the picturesque village of Beaucet near Avignon just after midnight on Wednesday.

His wife, 31, has also suffered wounds to her hands and couldn’t save him, fleeing the scene to call the police for help.In less than a week, the French Muslim community has been hit by more than 50 hate incidents, according o the Central Council of Muslims in France (CCIF).Among the 54 anti-Muslim incidents, there have been 21 reports of shootings and grenade throwing at Islamic buildings, as well as 33 cases of threats and insults.

Like this:

Hate mails, death threats and offensive cartoons have summed up most of the messages received by Finsbury Park mosque administration since last week’s Paris attacks.The mosque, which has become a focal point in the community for interfaith and peaceful worship over the past 10 years, was often overshadowed by its old links with extremist preacher Abu Hamza, who was sentenced to life in US prison.

The mosque is now the only one in the country to have received the charity commission-endorsed Visible Quality Award for its work in the community.

Like this:

With Hajji MUGAGA joining Kibuli, his record remains good and he can ably handle. Am one of those who passed through GOMBE SS when he was the Headmaster and we practically made it as students.

He is committed to development and sports. He is one Secondary school Headmaster who teach in class as well. He used to teach us FIQH while still in Gombe and could not miss class even though he was the Headmaster. He is not a boss but a team leader and always wants to be part of the team.

We wish Hajji Mugaaga the best at Kibuli and as well the tremendous efforts of Hajji Matovu while at Kibuli deserves credit. Some sections of the Ummah thought he would not hand over Kibuli but if the photo expression are true then he has defied all odds and rumor and honorably handed over. That is the true spirit of a statesman. He put public good and interest above personal wishes.

As you celebrate the changes in Kibuli and as you welcome Haji Mugaga remember we lost Lubiri S.S. To me where Kibuli is now any one could take it on and he/she could deliver and Haji Mugaga should have remained in Lubiri.

Whoever is behind transfers should consider taking some of the great “headteachers” to schools that are slowly but surely going into oblivion we need to get them from that state. Secondly there is need to have a balance in the management of purely public schools like Makerere College, Kitante, Old Kampala, Lubiri etc. Let us look back in history and try to evaluate how many times have the public schools been shared equally among the P.C.M

Anybody from and among the Muslim Circles and not outside our circles just as no Muslim can go to Ndejje Secondary because it is a COU founded school.

Besides I know and pretty sure that Haji Mugaga will deliver far beyond our expectations. But my only concern is that cant Haji Mugaga or Haji Matovu or Hajat Aisha Lubega one day help in rejuvenating those schools struggling like Namasumbi SS, Kibibi SS, Mende Kalema SS etc? Why should they always look at any posting to any of those schools as a demotion to an extent that at times I hear so and so was transferred to school xyz and resisted the transfer?

Like this:

The world’s largest bloc of Islamic countries has announced plans to sue Charlie Hebdo over the publication of new cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), amid increasing anger among Muslims worldwide.

“OIC is studying Europe and French laws and other available procedures to be able to take legal action against Charlie Hebdo,” Iyad Madani, the secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), told a Saudi newspaper, the Independent reported.

“If French laws allow us to take legal procedures against Charlie Hebdo, OIC will not hesitate to prosecute the French magazine.”

On his personal Twitter feed, Madani added: “These cartoons have hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world.

“Freedom of speech must not become a hate speech and must not offend others. No sane person, irrespective of doctrine, religion or faith, accepts his beliefs being ridiculed,” he said.

Muslims have been campaigning to obtain a ban on insults against religions and prophets.

Since 1999, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has annually sponsored a defamation of religions resolution in the UN Human Rights Council.

The OIC has pressed the UN to adopt a binding international covenant against the defamation of religions.

In 2009, the UN Council adopted a non-binding resolution, proposed by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC, condemning religious defamation and calling for respect of all faiths.

Yet in March 2011, the OIC approved, under heavy pressure from the US, to set aside its 12-year campaign to have religions protected from defamation.

The OIC decision was followed by an approval from the UN Human Rights Council on a broader plan on religious tolerance.

Like this:

Indeed, violence of any form is condemned, but we have to be fair by condemning all those who practice violence whoever and whenever they are.Also, it is completely wrong to judge a certain religion or ideology by some wrong practices of its followers.If we are allowed to do so, then, by the same measure, we need to condemn every religion for the violence committed by some among them. George Bush and Blair claimed to be faithful Christians, while they have been responsible for some of the worst violence this century has witnessed; some of the most devout Christians have said that they ought to be hauled to the World Tribunal for crimes against humanity.

Also, Israel is a Jewish state and as documented even by some of the scholars of Jewish origin, it has been guilty of genocide and acts of blatant terrorism against the Palestinians; just think of the horrors of Sabra and Shatila!

Neither Hinduism nor Buddhism is an exception; think of the Gujarat genocide and the latest Muslim genocide in Burma.

So why not condemn all of these religions? And why not condemn also all other ideologies for most of the wars of the century were waged in the name of secularism, godless communism, liberal democracy, etc.

Therefore, it is wholly unfair to blame Islam for the actions of a few Muslims.

Share this:

Like this:

The Amiir Ummah Shk. Muhammad Yunus Kamoga and Amiir Daula Shk. Sulaiman Kakeeto met His Eminence the Mufti of Uganda Shk. Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje today Tuesday 20th January 2014 in his office at the UMSC Headquarters Old Kampala.Sheikh Kamoga and Sheikh Kakeeto said they were responding to the Mufti’s appeal for Muslim unity and development in Uganda.The Mufti welcomed them and commended them for serving the Ummah in their capacities
Sheikh Kamoga said Muslims have lost a lot of time and opportunities due to perennial wrangles saying that enough is enough.

Sheikh Kakeeto said it is high time Muslims united under UMSC headquarters at Old Kampala so that they can collectively address issues of the Ummah.

The Mufti and the Amiirs agreed to hold a special Juma Prayer for Muslim Unity which will be held at the National Mosque, UMSC Headquarters Old Kampala on 30th Jan. 2015

“When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I’ve got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.

Suddenly I didn’t know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn’t seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why?

I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn’t talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn’t love her anymore. I just pitied her!

With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn’t have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

Like this:

Let me congratulate our own who are graduating with PHDs. The following brothers and sisters have completed their degrees and we as muslims are happy that this is a positive trend.
Dr Abubakar Moki Muhammad (PHD in Education)
Dr Kulumba Mohammed (PHD in Philsophy)
Dr Namusoke Fatumah (PHD in Medicine)
Dr Wasagali Sarah (PHD in Economics)
May Allah bless them and their education benefit more the Ummah.

With Consternation, I read the latest post from Brother Ahmed Kateregga, saying that “radicals have taken over Nakasero [Mosque] under Sheikh Yahaya Mwanje and have rejected the anointed PRO by Sheikh Kamoga, Sheikh Muhamud Nsumba (sic) an Islamic University lecturer and that they have chased away journalists”, harassing them.

Well, if indeed, it is truth that the so-called “RADICALS” have taken over Nakasero Mosque because Sheikh Kamoga took a sensible path as a leader, then, as Uganda Muslims we have a reason to worry. First, we seem to forget that the hatred and animosity we see today is the work of Satan.

Through many verses of the Holy Quran Allah laid down the most important basis for the Muslim ummah, in which Muslims should understand and implement in their lives. Especially for those vital issues related to the Muslim Ummah like: The causes of division and disputes.

Allah says in Surat Al-Imran, (Verses 102 & 103), what can be translated as, “O you who believe! Obtain taqwah of Allah as His taqwah should be obtained, and do not die except in a state of Islam. And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allah, and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favor on you, for you were enemies and He joined your hearts together, so that by His Grace, you became brethren and you were on the brink of a Pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayat clear to you, that you may be guided.”

And in the same surah, (Verses 105-107), Allah also says, what can be translated as, “And do not be as those who divided and differed among themselves after the clear proofs had come to them. It is they for whom there is an awful torment. On the Day (Day of Judgment) when some faces will become bright and some faces will become dark; as for those whose faces will become dark (to them will be said): “Did you reject faith after accepting it? Then taste the torment for rejecting faith. And for those whose faces will become Bright, they will be in Allah’s Mercy, therein they shall dwell forever.”

In these verses, Allah indicates that the desired Muslim ummah is founded on two important bases. This foundation enables the Muslim ummah to perform the great task, which Allah ordains, in leading other nations to their goodness and happiness. Also, Allah indicates that if one or both of these bases are absent, the whole society will collapse, and it will not be able to perform the task that Allah assigned.

During the time of Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) whenever Muslims were divided on issues, prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would bring them together. All the Companions used to accept his final decision from their hearts. As Muslims of today, we should not have any excuse for the disunity because even without Prophet Muhammad PBUH, we have the Holy Quran and Hadith from which we draw great wisdom.

For example, after the battle of Hunain, the hypocrites among Muslims tried to divide the Muhajir and Ansaar on the issue of distribution of GHANEEMAH. Muslims were very close to fight among themselves. Then, Allah’s Messenger was informed about the situation. He came and talked to them, and brought them together. The division disappeared.

Similarly, once two companions of Prophet (peace be upon him) were engaged in a dispute. Both of them belonged to two different tribes of Madinah. The hypocrites saw a perfect opportunity to ignite tribal rivalry. They started singing tribal songs on both sides. Muslims got divided into two groups and were very close to start a fight. The news again reached to Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him), he came and presented himself to the both groups.

To cut a long story short, both groups realized that for few minutes they had completely forgotten that Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him) was among them. As soon as they listened Allah’s Messenger (Peace be upon him), they realized their mistake and repented immediately. The unity of Muslim remained intact.

From these verses it’s pretty clear to all believers (True Muslims) that disunity and division are characteristics of the disbelievers. By the way, before the prevalence of Islam, the Muslim ummah was scattered fighting tribes, engrossed in endless disagreements and stupid quarrels but Allah connected their hearts by Islam and they became loving brothers and sisters, all worshiping the same Allah, and all fearing the same Allah. He is Allah who joined their hearts and molded their differences into one united ummah, and he is Allah who warns Muslims from breaking down this unity that He created. And in the Day of Judgment, Allah addresses those who fall into divisions and disputes saying, “Did you reject faith after accepting it?”

Disclaimer: Without any locus to the on-going police investigations into the alleged murder of our leaders and the arrest of our leaders in the country—Warning us against the dangers of disunity, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) also said in his last sermon to the Muslims as reported by Imam Muslim in one of his inscriptions, “After my death, don’t turn into kuffar infidels fighting and killing each other.”

Let me end by the role of Satan. The Holy Quran is categorical on this. It’s revealed that other than the path Allah prescribed to us in the Holy Quran, there are many other scattered paths, but they belong to Satan. And whenever the Muslims follow the path of Satan, they will scatter and fall into disputes and division.

This is what we see in the present situation. We have ignored the unique and right way that used to hold us united. We follow the path of Satan, which made our ummah disintegrate into small parts and groups and recruiting others to follow their path. Each of the fighting groups think of themselves as the one carrying the truth and following the right path. To the contrary- all these groups are misguided missiles as long as they continue to deviate from the ROPE of Allah.

But going forward, the meeting between Sheikh Shaban Mubajja, Sheikh Yunus Kamoga and Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto offers us a rare and perhaps a perfect opportunity to bury the hatchet and move on. We may have our differences but for how long are we going to fight? Muslims want unity, peace and development. We don’t want to hear about the so-called radicals, we want to hear and see a united voice, marching forward as Uganda Muslims. For if we stubbornly choose to be “radicals”, pretending that we don’t know that we were following the scattered path of Satan, Allah will punish us without pity.
I thank you.

Like this:

It is true that Kamoga was once a rebel before he surrendered and was given amnesty so was murtada Bukenya. But both have been NRM supporters and mobilisers more especially murtadha Bukenya. My fear is that police may have been influenced by anti Kamoga faction. Let them appear in corts of law. There should be no leadership vacuum at Nakasero and William Street as anti Kamoga leaders will not be allowed to take charge. The last coup attempt at William Street was a good lesson.

Latest from Nakasero mosque indicate that radicals under Sheikh Yahaya Kyazze from Masjid Noor, William Street have taken over, have rejected the anointed PRO, Sheikh Muhammad Yunus Kamoga appointed yesterday, Sheikh Muhamud Nsumba, an Islamic University in Uganda lecturer, have chased away journalists etc…May Allah same Islam otherwise these are likely to be easily targets and wrong people impose themselves.

Like this:

In a time of fear driven by global instability, Scot Muslims in eastern Scotland city of Dundee have launched new ad campaign on buses to change misperceptions about their faith.The campaign followed Paris attacks earlier in January which left 12 people killed in Charlie Hebdo satirical weekly.The ad campaign is not the first effort to be made by Dundee Muslims to correct misconceptions about Islam.

Last week, Dundee’s Muslim Message Society handed out roses and a message of peace to city center shoppers.

Each rose was accompanied by this quote from Mohammed: “Shall I inform you of something that holds a higher status than fasting, praying and giving charity? Making peace between people.”

Like this:

Veteran TV anchor Jim Clancy has left his post at the CNN after a series of tweets that claimed that Charlie Hebdo cartoon did not mock Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), blaming pro-Israel activists for fanning anti-Islam propaganda.The tweets were posted last January 7 after two gunmen attacked the French satirical weekly, killing 12 people.

Challenged on the accuracy of the statement by Oren Kessler, a deputy director of research at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Clancy tweeted, “Hasbara?,” a Hebrew term used to describe public relations efforts by the Israeli government.Clancy later told the Twitter account for Human Rights News, “You and the Hasbara team need to pick on some cripple at the edge of the herd.”

The argument angered pro-Israel activists, including Jay Ruderman, head of the Ruderman Family Foundation, who demanded an apology from Clancy and the CNN.

Afterwards, he closed his twitter account.

In a surprise move, Clancy, who anchored the global news show “The Brief,” announced he was leaving CNN after 34 years of work.

Like this:

Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah passed away early on Friday, January 23, giving a way to his 79-year-old half brother, Salman, to be crowned the new king.The announcment was made on state television which shifted to Qur’anic recitations, signifying the death of a senior royal, Reuters reported.King Abdullah, aged about 90, had been in hospital for several weeks suffering from a lung infection.

Being the Umbrella organisation of all Muslims in Uganda, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) is concerned and closely following the ongoing arrests of Muslim leaders and clerics (accused of murder and terrorism) by Uganda Police.

We have noted with appreciation the steps taken by the Police force especially when it comes to protecting the lives of those clerics who are possible targets of killers who have already killed several Muslim clerics.
We also respect and support the Police force’s mandate to detect crime, conduct investigations and take appropriate action against criminals in Uganda regardless of who and where they are.

However, in our ongoing engagements with different members of the Muslim fraternity, the following issues came up:

· Police is being accused of witch-hunting members of the Kamoga group rather than arresting suspected criminals. Apart from the recent murder of Shk. Mustafa Bahiga, the previous Sheikhs e.g. the late Shk. Abdul Karim Sentamu were killed when Shk. Kamoga and Shk. Dr. Haruna Jemba were under one leadership of Amiir Muhammad Yunus Kamoga. Muslims are therefore questioning the apparent selective arrests of clerics close to Amiir Kamoga.

· Muslims are also not at ease with the fact that other security agencies like CMI, ESO and ISO are not seen to be involved in this issue yet according to them; the public has much trust in said organisations. These agencies did a lot in 1997 when ADF elements used to plant and throw bombs in Kampala.

It is upon this background that we are requesting the President of Uganda His Excellency Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to issue a directive authorizing the involvement of ISO, ESO , CMI as well as IGG in the investigations regarding the murders of Muslim clerics. This is because there is a financial element in these issues.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FOLLOWING THE ARREST OF THE AMIRUL UMMAH, SHEIKH MUHAMMAD YUNUS KAMOGA. 21st January 2015

The National Committee of Duats of Jamuiyyat Da`wa Assalafiyyah, chaired by the District Amiir of Kampala, Shk Siraj Mukiibi, has held a meeting this morning after learning of the unfortunate Disappearance of the Amirul Ummah, Shk Muhammad Yunus Kamoga and others last evening 20th January 2015 on their way home after work when they were hijacked, surrounded by a double carbin and arrested by unknown persons some of whom were dressed in police uniforms and others plain clothed within the precincts of Shell Petrol Station near Grand Imperial Hotel .

The committee wishes to state that:

An interim administration of Jamuiyyat Da`wa Assalafiyya has been put in place led by Sheikh Yahaya Ramathan Mwanje. He will in the mean time be the official spokes person

Ugandan Muslims are expressing their disappointment in the manner in which the Amirul Ummah, a religious leader of his reputation and status was hijacked and arrested by unknown persons some of whom were in police uniforms and others plain clothed who maliciously pulled him out of his motor vehicle in a cruel manner with the people he was traveling with to wit; Hajj Mahmood Sebanyiiga, The Treasurer of Ummah House, Hajj Abdurahman Kikubira, The deputy treasurer of Ummah House, Mr Sulaiman Semmambo(Yaqeen), Ms Hajara Nabisubi(A daughter to Hajj Kikubira ) . We have learnt that there are a number of our brothers whose whereabouts are not certain like Sheikh Hamid Mbaziira, Mr Ayub Nyende, our Secretary General, Mr. Musa Njuki working from Nabugabo, Mr Abubakari Nyombi also working from Nabugabo.

This followed the Amiiru’s recent remarks earlier in the day in which he urged police and other security agencies to respect human rights and summon whoever they suspected to have committed a crime and assured them that the Shiekhs who are arrested in a cruel manner are responsible citizens of this country who are ready to answer any summons if needed at police. It is disheartening to know that a person, who has never failed to turn up to police on all incidents when he was called upon before, could be treated in that manner. Up to now his whereabouts are not known together with the people he was arrested with despite several efforts to trace them from all known gazated places.

It should be remembered that our brothers namely Abdusalam Mulumba, Siraje Kawooya, Yusuf Kakande, Twaha Ssekitto, Rashid Jingo went under the same treatment and severely tortured before they were produced to court and ultimately remanded to Luzira Prison. It was an ugly episode which we would not wish our Amiir and all our missing brothers to undergo.
In the same vein, we appeal to Uganda Police as the harbingers of justice, law and order, to observe our brothers’ fundamental human rights enshrined in our 1995 Constitution and other international conventions for human rights to which Uganda is a signatory. If there is any evidence against our brothers, let them be subjected to the due process of the law because no one is above the law. Otherwise it is embarrassing to treat our Amiir and brothers and sisters in an inhumane way by declaring them guilty before they are given a chance to be heard.

To our brothers and sisters in Islam and all Ugandans who have their country and the rule of law at heart, our message to you is that we are all Ugandans. This is a trying moment not only to our Amiiru but also all muslims in and outside the cells. We should stay firm, focused and hopeful. The truth of the matter will eventually come out in black and white. The prophet (S.A.W) faced even more trying moments but as the best example for us, he reacted to each situation in accordance with the circumstances obtaining at a particular time. Do not take the law in your hands because you will have reacted in the exact way the enemies of Islam planned and justify what is happening to our brothers now. If the crimes for which our brothers were arrested are brought to our knowledge, whoever has any truthful useful information should cooperate with police so that justice is done.

Lastly, we encourage you to uphold the spirit of unity, brotherhood and development that our Amiir has been spearheading prior to his arrest. This can be achieved through observing the highest degree of discipline expected of a muslim (who submits to the will of God), educating our children, serving our communities in various capacities and observing the law of the land. This is what Islam expects out of us and it is the means through which we can get out of this mess. Our Amiir has spearheaded this move by among others calling upon the different muslim factions to come together and take islam forward. This was epitomized by the seminar held at King Fahad Islamic Primary School in December 2014 in which Amir Dawla Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto, Senior Shiekhs from the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council including Haji Nsereko Mutumba among others attended. In the same spirit, prior to his arrest, the Amiir and his team met with Sheikh Sulaiman Kakeeto and the Muft of Uganda Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubaje who reconciled in the interest of the future of Islam and set Friday 30th January 2015 as the day for all muslims to conduct their Juma prayers from Gadafi Mosque as a symbol for unity. Let us carry this flag forward.